The rains stopped in the wee hours, allowing a nice walk in the park this
morning; cool and overcast, but with no wind. Just about a perfect October
day. And, the birds did not disappoint. The newest pulse of water birds
came from Ring-necked Ducks, several dozen in the main Promontory Pond, and
from Bufflehead, a similar number off the swim beach. And, a huge flock of
several hundred American Coots were in Pontiac Bay, perhaps an offshoot of
the thousands now in the north end of Lake Washington. Three Cackling Geese
were in the grassy fields, a large number for this park.

A Barn Owl was seen early at Seven Meadow where there were also several
calling Wilson's Snipe. A Cooper's Hawk was moving around the wetlands,
eventually chased away by an Anna's Hummingbird! A Bald Eagle was keeping
the coots moving and a Red-tailed Hawk brought out a cast of harassing
crows.

The swim platform was once again a gathering place for the gulls, with
about 60 Mew, one Herring, and a handful of Ring-billed, California and
Glaucous-winged Gulls. Grebes included a few Pied-billed, Red-necked,
Western and Horned, split between the swim beach area and Pontiac Bay.

Red-breasted Nuthatch are normally restricted to the conifers on Promontory
Point but were seen today in several locations, among deciduous trees.
Similarly, a few Pacific Wren were scattered throughout the park. Several
active flocks of Cedar Waxwing were flycatching among the poplar and
cottonwood trees and small groups of Yellow-rumped Warblers (mostly
Audubon's; a few Myrtle) could be seen everywhere.

A Hermit and Varied Thrush were both quietly calling, trying to be
invisible, on Promontory Point. On several occasions, a single Evening
Grosbeak could be heard calling overhead; the same bird, or several?
Finally, Pine Siskins are now in huge flocks; even if they were not
vocalizing (not the case), the wingbeats of so many birds could be easily
heard.

For the morning 61 species.
Scott Ramos
Seattle